Redbirds defeat Aces in weekend opener
UE faces Bradley on Saturday
 NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State opened the night with a 25-13 win and kept up the intensity on their way to a 3-0 win over the University of Evansville volleyball team on Friday night in Redbird Arena.
Evansville (17-7, 7-6 MVC) was led by Giulia Cardona’s 12 kills with Alondra Vazquez adding eight. Melanie Feliciano had a team-high nine digs while Cecilia Thon added 18 assists. Tamara Otene paced the Redbirds (15-11, 11-3 MVC) with 13 kills while Kaity Weimerskirch had 11 digs.
Set 1 – ISU 25, UE 13
The Redbirds set the early tone in the opening frame, opening up a 7-2 lead with Nora Janka capping it off with an ace. After a kill by Cardona, ISU continued to add to its lead, extending it to double figures with another run that made it a 17-6 score. From there, the Redbirds took a 25-13 decision to take the first set.
Set 2 – ISU 26, UE 24
An early kill by Melanie Feliciano saw the Purple Aces tie things up at 4-4. Illinois State responded by posting the next seven points to take their largest lead of the frame. Evansville showed its character, scrapping for each point. Their work would pay off when consecutive service aces by Laura Ruiz tied the game back up at 16-16. After falling behind by the 11-4 score, the Aces responded immediately with five in a row. A Cardona kill got it started before Alondra Vazquez added another. Feliciano also had an ace to chip into the deficit.
After the Aces tied it up, the Redbirds wrestled the lead away, going up 20-17. Down to its final point trailing 24-22, UE stormed back when kills by Vazquez and Feliciano tied it up. Illinois State regained control with the final two points, winning by a 26-24 final on their way to a 2-0 lead.
Set 3 – ISU 25, UE 10
In the third set, it was another early run by the Redbirds that gave them control. Scoring the first six points of the set, ISU grabbed the momentum and would not give it up. Evansville got within five, but the Redbirds answered each time, pulling away for a 25-10 win to clinch the match by a final of 3-0.
On Saturday, UE will look for a weekend split when they face Bradley in a 5 p.m. contest in Peoria.
